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The Santa Con

The Santa Con

TV movie201488 minMidcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
Director
Melissa Joan Hart
Starring
Barry Watson, Melissa Sagemiller, Scott Grimes, Melissa Joan Hart

Small-time con man Nick DeMarco is ordered by his parole officer to take a minimum-wage job as a department store Santa during the holidays...and he hates it. Near the end of his first shift, he hastily promises a young boy, Billy, that Santa will bring his estranged parents back together by Christmas. Nick decides to make good on his promise to the child, somehow. But after meeting the boy's mother Carol, will Nick ultimately choose to put the happiness of others ahead of his own?

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Santa Con?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list The Santa Con on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Santa Con?

The Santa Con earns 3 badges, led by Christmas pick and Preferred by US Viewers.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Santa Con worth watching?

The Santa Con's Midcredits score is the 44th percentile of all films, from 1.2K ratings across 4 sources. 44% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

44th percentile

Better received than 44% of films

50th percentile among Comedy44th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)44th
Approval (how many liked it)44th

60 /100

44th percentile of all films

51st percentile among Comedy45th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.1 — solid but not unanimous.

44% liked it

44th percentile of all films

48th percentile among Comedy43rd percentile among 2010s
44% rated it 7–1056% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 1 noms overall

57th percentile

1.2K ratings across platforms

50th percentile among Comedy60th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 42% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$1.5M

What reviewers say

Common ground

A con-man-turned-mall-Santa promises to reunite a boy's estranged parents, leading to attempts at personal redemption.

Fans praised

  • surprising dramatic depth beneath Christmas formula
  • earnest redemption arc of a con man finding value
  • supporting characters add substance

Detractors panned

  • tonal clash between wacky humor and serious alcoholism
  • protagonist becomes unlikeable due to constant lying
  • jokes feel off-putting and forced

What stands out

Acting65

cast fits well, Watson and Hart effective

Emotional impact65

earnest redemption and family moments

CharactersDivisive60

well-described arc for con man, antagonist's alcoholism heavy-handed

Dialogue60

witty allusions and aphorisms integrated

Ending60

surprising but superficially treated resolution

Plot and storyDivisive55

unpredictable turns but problems solved too easily

Originality55

takes a few surprising turns from typical Christmas rom-com

HumorDivisive40

attempts at wacky fun clash with serious drama

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 19 points higher than non-US viewers.

Watch experience

What is The Santa Con like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, has a few laughs and leaves you hopeful. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
WarmHopefulTense
Heaviest: middle
Warm humor
Register
WarmSentimental · 8% of filmsWry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film balances lighthearted holiday comedy with sincere drama, playing its redemption story straight while allowing for humorous moments.
The rideThe film opens with light comedy, shifts to a more serious and emotionally weighted middle as Nick grapples with his promise, and ends on a hopeful note.
StructureThe story follows a conventional three-act structure: setup of Nick's parole and Santa job, rising action as he schemes to reunite the parents, and resolution of his promise and personal growth.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves the viewer with a sense of warmth and optimism, believing in the possibility of redemption and the importance of keeping promises.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Rebirth
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% (this title) · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Redemption: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).

13% of films fit this archetype

with Comedy underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe film follows a con man who, forced into a Santa job, makes a promise that sets him on a path of moral reawakening and self-redemption. The con elements and false identity (playing Santa, infiltrating the family's life) drive much of the plot, but the core is his transformation.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% (this title) · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Redemption · 6% of filmsFamily bondsSelf-worth · 7% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on a con man's journey from self-interest to genuine care for others, as he works to reunite a broken family and in doing so finds his own worth.
StanceThe film celebrates redemption and the possibility of personal change, presenting Nick's journey as ultimately positive and affirming.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Danny Lux
SettingA small American town during the Christmas season, featuring a mall and suburban homes.
MusicThe score likely underscores the film's emotional and heartwarming moments with a light orchestral touch.

Content guide

Is The Santa Con okay for kids?

As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its sexual content at minimal (0/100). It has too few votes to rank yet.

Overall
needs 3 or more scored categories
not ranked
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Overall standing needs at least three scored categories; this title has 1.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Santa Con have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Santa Con?

Cast

Barry Watson
as Nick DeMarco
Melissa Sagemiller
as Carol Guthrie
Scott Grimes
as John Guthrie
Melissa Joan Hart
as Rose DeMarco
Jaleel White
as Paul Greenberg
Tucker Meek
as Billy Guthrie
Wendy Williams
as Pastor Ruth
Alimi Ballard
as Steve Repperton
John Ratzenberger
as Warden
Matthew Porter
as Walter Banfield

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Santa Con?

Movies like The Santa Con include This Christmas (2007), In Good Company (2004) and Wreck-It Ralph (2012). Of the 12 closest matches, several are Christmas films, and several are romantic comedies.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

9 of these 12 share its story type: redemption. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Santa Con?

997 other films share the rarest tag below, follows: con artist. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.